** ANTARCTICA. 15476, Nov 15 at 1403, 1412, 1457 chex, no signal detected from LRA36 this Thursday, but it has been reactivated after more than a year! The news came from Horacio Nigro`s blog where Mirta of LRA36 posted a reply to his historical article about the station, saying they had just returned to the air for the 2012 summer season.
Check the comments at the end of this, and also for further info:
http://lagalenadelsur.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/argentina-la-emisora-antartica-lra36-radio-nacional-arcangel-san-gabriel/
Confirmed by log from Hugo López C. in Santiago de Chile, condiglista yg Nov 15: ``Ya está al aire y con programa en español, 1255 UT`` y ``15476.2, 1258, "En LR36 [sic] Radio [sic, no Nacional?] Arcángel San Gabriel, es tiempo de música", Ident 1300, música folclórica" 35443 (Hugo López, Santiago, Chile, Kenwood R-5000, Dipolo)``
and from Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, dxldyg: ``First video of LRA36, very weak for now + QSB in Montevideo, 1400 UT on November 15th: http://youtu.be/8DzQRLNaagY 73 from Montevideo`` showing tuned to 15476.1.
No info on their exact schedule, but it used to be circa 1230-1500 UT on weekdays only. It`s extremely fortunate that no one has taken over 15475 in the year LRA36 has been absent, especially since it was never even registered with HFCC. Before 1400 there`s a considerable signal on 15470, V. of Russia, and at 13-15 a weak signal on 15480, AWR Sri Lanka.
We`ll keep trying every weekday morning, for better propagation and we hope a bit more oomph from the transmitter. As discussed last year, this part of North America has an advantage with an almost all-water path from Esperanza to Enid, while further east it`s over S America, even the Andes, and further west more of Mexico to traverse. I got the news of LRA36 reactivation just in time start WORLD OF RADIO 1643 with it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, Nov 15 at 0042, very fast commentary, apparently sports, and at first I wondered if it was Portuguese, i.e. R. Aparecida, but decided it was Spanish, especially since it`s the typical off-frequency of R. Santa Cruz; and stronger than a weaker carrier on 6135.0, presumably V. de Rusia, San Petersburgo. TADIL-A bonker intruder on the low side could be taken out by USB tuning on the DX-398 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 7220 & 7435, Nov 15 at 1359, Spain`s REE IS preceding the CRI Nepali service from Kunming site; but no real European signals direct; see SOMALILAND (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Nov 15, before 1430:
12320, poor at 1423
12230, poor at 1423; no others 10-18 MHz
9315, good at 1429, // 12230, and all three still at 1452
9315 is against IBB Tibetan via THAILAND during this hour only, unheard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CROATIA [non]. 7375, Nov 15 at 0038, just as I suspected, Croatian Radio via Nauen, GERMANY, is making a fast SAH, maybe 20 Hz with Croatian Radio via Nauen, GERMANY, i.e. the two 100 kW transmitters which are simultaneous at 00-04, one toward S America, one toward N America. This resembles propagational flutter, except that would not be so regular, and there was none of it on other European signals, such as steady 7465 Albania, 7475 Greece.
SW Engineering 101: if you are going to ``synchronize`` two transmitters on one frequency, they must be on the exact same frequency, not even 1 Hz apart; and, of course, the modulation must also be synchronized in timing to avoid an echo or reverb. The previous relay via Wertachtal in A-12 did have a bit of the latter, but there is too much frequency-beating now to be sure of Nauen on that score (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1643, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 6000, Nov 15 at 0509, RHC English is still on this frequency which is supposed to close at 0500; much weaker and subject to an echo from much stronger 6010 at the other site. 6120 is also still on air and in English instead of closing Spanish at 0500, and 6125 is not yet on. Then at 0510, 6125 carrier comes on, and 6000 has gone off. The typical slipshod operation of RadioCuba.
But that`s not all: at 0649 I am surprised to hear the RHC IS on all the English frequencies, and 0650 *opening* the English hour with all the stuff we are about to hear. So are they running 50 minutes late or 10 minutes early in the playback? Anyhow, shortly after 0700 all the frequencies heard earlier --- 6010, 6060, 6125, 6165, 6270, 5040 --- are off, so anyone expecting to hear the full hour starting at 0650 will have been sorely disappointed. Typical slipshod operation of RHC.
17580, Nov 15 at 1419 I notice this frequency is missing, while 17730 is on; at 1500 check, 17580 is back on too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUIANA FRENCH. 9490, Nov 15 at 0040, R. República is spurless tonight, and hope it stays that way, but they`ve been coming and going (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, Nov 15 at 1453, JBA carrier from VOI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Nov 14 around 2130 UT, KEOR Sperry/Catoosa/Tulsa is on again with Mexican music. Still no IDs ever heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES. 7575, Nov 15 at 1455, big humbuzz sounds like a malfunxioning broadcast transmitter, and so strong it could be North American --- but 1458 the humbuzz stops and standard VOA sign-on twice with Yankee Doodle IS in the clear; 1500 VOA news in English. This is now scheduled daily 1500-1600, two times 250 kW from Tinang, one at 200 degrees, the other at 275 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOMALILAND. 7120, Nov 15 at 1348, R. Hargeisa best heard yet during this hour, bits of HOA music mixed with talk, but not in English which was probably mid-hour. If it had been in English and not heavily accented, could have copied some of it. Constant CWQRM from some autoham, not hand-keyed, which could have been notched if I had a notch. At 1400 spoke a few words, open carrier, but a semiminute later fanfare and march, anthem? And cut off the air at 1402:05* This is their typical schedule now, ending midday transmission, but coming back on circa 1500 when unlikely to be heard here.
When heard before 1400, is this long-path or short-path? It seems that short might be possible as we get into longest winter nights, but the trouble is, if the short-path is open across Europe we would also be hearing European signals on 7 MHz, which we are not --- tho would hardly know where to look at this unfamiliar daypart. But tuning 7200-7500+, no broadcasters but Asians and North Americans noted. So I think it still must be long-path, across the Indian Ocean, south of Australia and NZ, and up across the Pacific, almost all over-water, facilitating bounces (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [non]. 15170, Nov 15 at 1406, REE via CR is starting `Españoles en la Mar`, missing yesterday due to general strike prompting music fill.
11815, again today, another Cariari transmitter is way out of whack, big distorted blob at 1428. This frequency is also used for DRM later in the evening, and wonder if that is part of the problem, but this is not pure DRM now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15225, Nov 14 at 2020, VOA French from Greenville has no spurs, unlike Nov 10 when there were huge spur ranges at multiples of plus and minus 225 kHz or so, including blocking WWV on 15000. I meant to check this the following days, but did not get back to it until four days later. VOA couldn`t find any problem when checked Nov 11. I wonder if such things might be caused by shorts in the curtain antennas depending on the wind.
15620, Nov 15 at 1413, steady open carrier beating against the 15619 squishy spur from 15610 WEWN; 1416 brief tone and off. Typical behavior of IBB Greenville tuning up for later broadcast, and bingo, B-12 scheduled on 15620 at 1830-1900 daily in French. Each day they need to be sure the transmitter will be working properly so no last-minute fixes will be needed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1643: first SW airing Thursday Nov 15 at 2200 on WTWW 9479. Then UT Friday 0430v on WWRB 3195; UT Saturday 0230v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; UT Sunday 0500 on WTWW-1, which has been on 5745 but in order to avoid conflict with R. Martí in the mornings, will be moving the entire overnight transmission (0100-1300?) to a clear spot nearby, perhaps 5855. Presumably we`ll have the definite info and change date shortly.
On WRMI 9955: Sat 0900, 1600, 1830; Sun 0900, 1630; Mon 0530; Tue 1200
On Hamburger Lokalradio: Sat 0630 on 7265, 1630 on 6190 (if frequency change last week is maintained)
On WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sat 1380
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 11715.0, Nov 15 at 1425, KJES catechisms call-and-repeat in Spanish, somewhat undermodulated, and with big humbuzz not usually heard; wiggle that patchcord? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 7305, Nov 15 at 1145, referring to Universidad de Salamanca, ID in passing as Radio Vaticano (with an O), date as 16 (?) de noviembre, lectura de hoy desde el evangelio de Lucas. It`s the Greenville relay at 1130-1200, which along with 0200-0245 are the only remaining Vatican Radio SW transmissions to the western hemisphere, Spanish overtly for Cuba with its limited and censored internet access, but no jamming heard yet.
More than an hour before sunrise, reception here is only fair, and there is CCI from an understation. HFCC B-12 shows not only VOR due south with 250 kW from Irkutsk, Russia but also CNR, 100 kW, 37 degrees USward from SZG site in China --- great frequency choice! Obviously picked 7305 only for convenience because it`s also the evening frequency for VR via Greenville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Check the comments at the end of this, and also for further info:
http://lagalenadelsur.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/argentina-la-emisora-antartica-lra36-radio-nacional-arcangel-san-gabriel/
Confirmed by log from Hugo López C. in Santiago de Chile, condiglista yg Nov 15: ``Ya está al aire y con programa en español, 1255 UT`` y ``15476.2, 1258, "En LR36 [sic] Radio [sic, no Nacional?] Arcángel San Gabriel, es tiempo de música", Ident 1300, música folclórica" 35443 (Hugo López, Santiago, Chile, Kenwood R-5000, Dipolo)``
and from Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, dxldyg: ``First video of LRA36, very weak for now + QSB in Montevideo, 1400 UT on November 15th: http://youtu.be/8DzQRLNaagY 73 from Montevideo`` showing tuned to 15476.1.
No info on their exact schedule, but it used to be circa 1230-1500 UT on weekdays only. It`s extremely fortunate that no one has taken over 15475 in the year LRA36 has been absent, especially since it was never even registered with HFCC. Before 1400 there`s a considerable signal on 15470, V. of Russia, and at 13-15 a weak signal on 15480, AWR Sri Lanka.
We`ll keep trying every weekday morning, for better propagation and we hope a bit more oomph from the transmitter. As discussed last year, this part of North America has an advantage with an almost all-water path from Esperanza to Enid, while further east it`s over S America, even the Andes, and further west more of Mexico to traverse. I got the news of LRA36 reactivation just in time start WORLD OF RADIO 1643 with it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, Nov 15 at 0042, very fast commentary, apparently sports, and at first I wondered if it was Portuguese, i.e. R. Aparecida, but decided it was Spanish, especially since it`s the typical off-frequency of R. Santa Cruz; and stronger than a weaker carrier on 6135.0, presumably V. de Rusia, San Petersburgo. TADIL-A bonker intruder on the low side could be taken out by USB tuning on the DX-398 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 7220 & 7435, Nov 15 at 1359, Spain`s REE IS preceding the CRI Nepali service from Kunming site; but no real European signals direct; see SOMALILAND (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Nov 15, before 1430:
12320, poor at 1423
12230, poor at 1423; no others 10-18 MHz
9315, good at 1429, // 12230, and all three still at 1452
9315 is against IBB Tibetan via THAILAND during this hour only, unheard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CROATIA [non]. 7375, Nov 15 at 0038, just as I suspected, Croatian Radio via Nauen, GERMANY, is making a fast SAH, maybe 20 Hz with Croatian Radio via Nauen, GERMANY, i.e. the two 100 kW transmitters which are simultaneous at 00-04, one toward S America, one toward N America. This resembles propagational flutter, except that would not be so regular, and there was none of it on other European signals, such as steady 7465 Albania, 7475 Greece.
SW Engineering 101: if you are going to ``synchronize`` two transmitters on one frequency, they must be on the exact same frequency, not even 1 Hz apart; and, of course, the modulation must also be synchronized in timing to avoid an echo or reverb. The previous relay via Wertachtal in A-12 did have a bit of the latter, but there is too much frequency-beating now to be sure of Nauen on that score (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1643, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 6000, Nov 15 at 0509, RHC English is still on this frequency which is supposed to close at 0500; much weaker and subject to an echo from much stronger 6010 at the other site. 6120 is also still on air and in English instead of closing Spanish at 0500, and 6125 is not yet on. Then at 0510, 6125 carrier comes on, and 6000 has gone off. The typical slipshod operation of RadioCuba.
But that`s not all: at 0649 I am surprised to hear the RHC IS on all the English frequencies, and 0650 *opening* the English hour with all the stuff we are about to hear. So are they running 50 minutes late or 10 minutes early in the playback? Anyhow, shortly after 0700 all the frequencies heard earlier --- 6010, 6060, 6125, 6165, 6270, 5040 --- are off, so anyone expecting to hear the full hour starting at 0650 will have been sorely disappointed. Typical slipshod operation of RHC.
17580, Nov 15 at 1419 I notice this frequency is missing, while 17730 is on; at 1500 check, 17580 is back on too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUIANA FRENCH. 9490, Nov 15 at 0040, R. República is spurless tonight, and hope it stays that way, but they`ve been coming and going (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, Nov 15 at 1453, JBA carrier from VOI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Nov 14 around 2130 UT, KEOR Sperry/Catoosa/Tulsa is on again with Mexican music. Still no IDs ever heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES. 7575, Nov 15 at 1455, big humbuzz sounds like a malfunxioning broadcast transmitter, and so strong it could be North American --- but 1458 the humbuzz stops and standard VOA sign-on twice with Yankee Doodle IS in the clear; 1500 VOA news in English. This is now scheduled daily 1500-1600, two times 250 kW from Tinang, one at 200 degrees, the other at 275 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOMALILAND. 7120, Nov 15 at 1348, R. Hargeisa best heard yet during this hour, bits of HOA music mixed with talk, but not in English which was probably mid-hour. If it had been in English and not heavily accented, could have copied some of it. Constant CWQRM from some autoham, not hand-keyed, which could have been notched if I had a notch. At 1400 spoke a few words, open carrier, but a semiminute later fanfare and march, anthem? And cut off the air at 1402:05* This is their typical schedule now, ending midday transmission, but coming back on circa 1500 when unlikely to be heard here.
When heard before 1400, is this long-path or short-path? It seems that short might be possible as we get into longest winter nights, but the trouble is, if the short-path is open across Europe we would also be hearing European signals on 7 MHz, which we are not --- tho would hardly know where to look at this unfamiliar daypart. But tuning 7200-7500+, no broadcasters but Asians and North Americans noted. So I think it still must be long-path, across the Indian Ocean, south of Australia and NZ, and up across the Pacific, almost all over-water, facilitating bounces (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [non]. 15170, Nov 15 at 1406, REE via CR is starting `Españoles en la Mar`, missing yesterday due to general strike prompting music fill.
11815, again today, another Cariari transmitter is way out of whack, big distorted blob at 1428. This frequency is also used for DRM later in the evening, and wonder if that is part of the problem, but this is not pure DRM now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15225, Nov 14 at 2020, VOA French from Greenville has no spurs, unlike Nov 10 when there were huge spur ranges at multiples of plus and minus 225 kHz or so, including blocking WWV on 15000. I meant to check this the following days, but did not get back to it until four days later. VOA couldn`t find any problem when checked Nov 11. I wonder if such things might be caused by shorts in the curtain antennas depending on the wind.
15620, Nov 15 at 1413, steady open carrier beating against the 15619 squishy spur from 15610 WEWN; 1416 brief tone and off. Typical behavior of IBB Greenville tuning up for later broadcast, and bingo, B-12 scheduled on 15620 at 1830-1900 daily in French. Each day they need to be sure the transmitter will be working properly so no last-minute fixes will be needed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1643: first SW airing Thursday Nov 15 at 2200 on WTWW 9479. Then UT Friday 0430v on WWRB 3195; UT Saturday 0230v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; UT Sunday 0500 on WTWW-1, which has been on 5745 but in order to avoid conflict with R. Martí in the mornings, will be moving the entire overnight transmission (0100-1300?) to a clear spot nearby, perhaps 5855. Presumably we`ll have the definite info and change date shortly.
On WRMI 9955: Sat 0900, 1600, 1830; Sun 0900, 1630; Mon 0530; Tue 1200
On Hamburger Lokalradio: Sat 0630 on 7265, 1630 on 6190 (if frequency change last week is maintained)
On WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sat 1380
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 11715.0, Nov 15 at 1425, KJES catechisms call-and-repeat in Spanish, somewhat undermodulated, and with big humbuzz not usually heard; wiggle that patchcord? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 7305, Nov 15 at 1145, referring to Universidad de Salamanca, ID in passing as Radio Vaticano (with an O), date as 16 (?) de noviembre, lectura de hoy desde el evangelio de Lucas. It`s the Greenville relay at 1130-1200, which along with 0200-0245 are the only remaining Vatican Radio SW transmissions to the western hemisphere, Spanish overtly for Cuba with its limited and censored internet access, but no jamming heard yet.
More than an hour before sunrise, reception here is only fair, and there is CCI from an understation. HFCC B-12 shows not only VOR due south with 250 kW from Irkutsk, Russia but also CNR, 100 kW, 37 degrees USward from SZG site in China --- great frequency choice! Obviously picked 7305 only for convenience because it`s also the evening frequency for VR via Greenville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
